www.myspace.com/seabird

As the year in music starts to hit full swing, the amount and variety has already started to increase despite the slow economy.  Let me fill you in on what I found this week.

I started with Moonlight Bride. They are a fantastic four-piece, unsigned band out of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I don’t have a great deal of information on these boys other than they have self-released their latest effort, which is titled MYTHS.  I like what I’m hearing though.  Their single is “Young Guns” and it’s quite catchy.

I finished the opening set with the latest from the VV Brown.  Actually, if you listened to this show with some frequency, you’ve probably heard that song before.  I’ve been playing it since July of 2009.  Brown’s latest album, TRAVELING LIKE THE LIGHT, was released in the UK in 2008.  The single, “Crying Blood,” which is what I played; I got my hot little hands on earlier this year.  But since it has been officially released, I thought I’d play it as part of my New Release Show.

Changing musical direction here with a new release from a band called Boo Hooray, which I happen to think, is a hilarious name.  It’s kind of like opposite names in a band.  Like Velvet Revolver or Concrete Blonde…something soft combined with something hard.  That was the advice Michael Stipe gave Johnette Napolitano when she was trying to come up with a name for her band.  So with Boo Hooray, they are opposite cheers.  Anywho, Boo Hooray used to be known as Electric Music, which is essentially the duo of Tom Doyle and Anth Brown, just released their third album, HAUNTED.  They have a nice touch on some mid-tempo music.  The selected single is “The Angels Are Closer,” which is very nice, but I happen to like “Everything Is Light And Dust And Alright.”

That was followed with “Bluff” from Daphne Willis.  It is the designated single from her new album WHAT TO SAY.  I actually played it about a month ago as part of the New Release Show but I like the track and I thought I’d feature it again.  Miss Daphne has an in-store appearance at the Barnes & Noble, in the Prudential Center, at Noon on March 6^th.  Then later that night she has a paying gig at Café 939.  I’m planning on making the free show at the Pru.

Let’s keep things moving here with Canadian singer/songwriter Basia Bulat.  She received quite a bit of press with the release of her 2007 debut release, OH, MY DARLING.  Well, she has followed that fine CD up with HEART OF MY OWN.  These twelve tracks on her new album have some nicely crafted tunes but as usual…I didn’t have an affinity for the selected single, “Run.”  Instead, my ears perked up upon hearing track number seven, “If Only You.”  I think is showcases her vocal style and her assured writing.  What caught my attention is that the song is more upbeat than the others but it still is about sad subject matter.  Very clever.

Closing off that two-song set with new music from the lovely Allison Moorer.  Did you know she is Shelby Lynne’s little sister and that Allison is married to Steve Earle, who also produced this album, CROWS.  The track I chose to play was “The Broken Girl.”  And per usual, the song I picked is not the selected single, which is the title track.  Don’t get me wrong.  “Crows” is a lovely song and Allison’s voice sweetly sings the lyrics; it’s just a bit down-tempo for my taste.  Hey, I’m an upbeat kind of guy, if you haven’t figured that already.

My lineage subject was Beach House. This sometimes melodically dark duo is from Baltimore, where I originally became familiar with their work.  I worked at WTMD, just outside the city proper for four years before coming to Boston.  With Victoria Legrand’s dreamy vocals and Alex Scally’s otherworldly arrangements, Beach House created a strong local following.  Their third, and latest, album is TEEN DREAM.  It also their official Bigger Label debut, as this CD is released on Sub Pop.  The sound follows a similar style as their previous work but what they tried to work on, with the help of their new label, was how it sounded.  The new effort was recorded in a converted church, which adds to their ethereal sound.  I played the track “Used To Be.” 

The follow-up tune for the lineage was “Wedding Bell,” which came from the DEVOTION album.  It’s a great cool-down song for after my workout.  (The video is not an officially sanctioned piece. It appears to be a class project for a student but it does tell an interesting story to the tune of "Wedding Bell," so I linked to it)

Next is new music from the Mary Onettes.  The track I played was “Century,” and it’s off the latest album, ISLANDS.  Clever name eh?  The MARY ONETTES, or if said quickly…the marionettes.  This pop quartet is from Sweden and was founded back in 2000.  They’ve released several EPs and this is their second, full-length album.  By the way, the selected single is “Puzzles,” and it’s a good song.  But you know me; I just like to dive into the deeper tracks. (The video link for "Century" really isn’t a video. It’s just the album cover with the song playing. I included it because their myspace page didn’t include it in their player.)

“Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” is the latest single from Sea Bird. This Cincinnati based rock and roll band model themselves after artists like Keane, Coldplay or James Blunt, depending on the mood of the song.  This track is from their second, full-length disc entitled ROCKS INTO RIVERS.  It’s as mainstream as I’m going to get.

I followed that up with the latest from The Go Find.  I actually featured this band and group on an earlier New Release Show.  The first show in January, I think…but I digress.  I mention this only because the album just officially came out, so I thought I might re-visit this track since it’s a pleasant mid-tempo jaunt; perfect for a Tuesday morning; when the show airs and you should listen to.  The track I reprised was, “Everybody Knows It’s Gonna Happen Only Not Tonight,” which is also the album’s title. (I don’t where this video came from but it’s nice visuals)

Next up…is a strangely named band called Chew Lips.  They are a South London based electronic/pop trio.  The lead singer goes by a single name, TIGS, and she is supported by multi-instrumentalists; Will Anderson and James Watkins.  After looking into the band a little bit deeper, I discovered that the band’s name is from a character in Brendan Behan’s book BORSTAL BOY.  The song I played is called “Seven” and it’s from the new album UNICORN, which is not yet out here in the States.

Let me slip in one more from Phantogram.  Their new album is EYELID MOVIES.  They are a funky blend of electronics, sampling and female fronted pop.  I played “As Far As I Can See.

Join me live every Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM (all times Eastern US) at wmfo.org.  You get to hear my charming voice and get a feel of how the show is designed to sonically move from one song to another.  It’s good for you.  Trust me; I’m a professional.

Songs in BOLD are links to the video.